Natural Skin Cleanser--great for moisturising and deep pore cleansing

Two simple ingredients.

Oil (Safflower oil, olive oil, vegetable oil, etc.)

I used Safflower oil or olive oil and those work great.

Sea Salt

THAT'S IT!

 Sea Salt and Oil Cleanser


Pour a few tablespoons of oil into a glass jar.

Then add a generous amount of sea salt.  A few tablespoons or so as well.

You'll be able to tell if you need a little more once you mix it up a little bit.

Then shake it up in a circular motion, with the lid on and you've got your natural granulated cleanser!

Use this cleanser 3-4 times a week. 

Things Ive noticed while using this cleanser.  I have had large pores for years now and I've noticed that after using this mixture, they've been shrinking and closing up.  Also, what I like to call my occasional "underground pimples" have begun to either surface and clear up or go away on their own.  The sea salt allows for exfoliation and a thorough cleanse deep down in your pores.  The oil smooths and conditions your skin once you've used abrasion and exfoliation.

Note:  While using this cleanser, you will have put in more of an effort to rinse off your face with water and then gently dry your face with a towel, absorbing any excess oil.  The results are very worth it!  Younger, smoother, and dewier looking skin! (:

Costa Rica's Pura Vida; Live a Healthy Pure Life

Over Thanksgiving break, I was in Costa Rica for 8 days with 20 of my family members.  We were there to simply reunite, relax, bond, and enjoy!  We surfed everyday, went zip-lining, visited several different beaches and surfing spots, and just hung out.

It was truly the trip of a lifetime.  Our houses we rented were literally in the jungle and walking distance of the ocean.  The food there was so unprocessed and fresh; it was incredible!  We ate a lot of fish, eggs, chicken, fruits, vegetables, minimal red meats, and things low in sugar.  It felt like such a cleanse.

While eating these foods all week, I felt better and more energized.  It just confirms that we really are what we eat.  If we eat the good stuff, real unprocessed foods, we feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally.

This trip was like a retreat for the heart, body, mind, and soul.  I bonded with many family members whom I don't get to see that often, got to spend quality time with close loved ones, and got to be spiritual and at peace with the world.  I encourage all of you to take time out of your day or week to really be present in the moment with your friends and family and to just live.  Eat real foods; they make you feel better.  And stay active!  Do some sort of activity everyday.

Not everyone gets the luxury of surfing daily or even partaking in hiking and activities like those, but go for a walk, get your heart rate up, and practice yoga. Take time to relax and meditate.  Reflect on all of your blessings and appreciate the things you already have. 

Viva una pura vida!  Choose to be happy.  Happiness looks good on everyone and radiates around you.  People like happy people because it makes them feel happier.  So be happy (:

Find a happy place & make time for yourself. (Finals are around the corner)

Make time for yourself. (This is especially important during times of high-stress, where you feel like you don't have a lot of time). 

I wound up in the ER a couple nights ago because I felt like I was having a heart attack.  Turns out it was Costochondritis, which basically means my chest walls were super inflamed causing major chest discomfort along with other symptoms.  I think it was at least half stress-related.  I've been very busy with my studies and work that I barely had time to breathe.  I suffered the consequences later when I was literally not able to breathe well.  After all of that happened and I was released, I told myself I would start making time for myself, just to download, to relax. 

So on Sunday, I went for a run/power-walk and went to a spot in the forest that I like to go to when I want to just sit and think or not think at all.  I didn't bring my phone so I was disconnected from technology and distractions.  It was a great opportunity for me to reflect on life and meditate.  For me, when I am surrounded by nature, removed from the fast-paced world we live in, I can finally breathe and things start to become much clearer.

I love to sit there and take in all the beauty or sometimes I write poetry, listening to the sounds of the leaves rustling, or the wind blowing through the trees.

Later that evening, I stretched and watched some of my favorite TV shows and began to feel much calmer and at peace with myself. 

I seriously suggest to you all that you take time for yourself to unwind from your busy life and just live.

So even throughout your busy days, take an hour or half hour at least to read a book, take a walk, sit in the forest, dance, work out, stretch, do yoga, meditate, take a bath, light some candles, write, catch up with an old friend you haven't talked to in ages, call or Skype your family, or do whatever makes you happy and relaxed for those moments.

It's amazing how doing these things can really reduce your overall stress level. 

Benefits of healthy sleep

I'm currently taking a class called Sleep and Sleep Disorders and was reading a section about sleep in terms of good health and longevity and thought I should share some important advice with you all.

While exercise and diet are extremely important for living a long and healthy life, studies have shown that sleep might actually have a greater effect on longevity than diet and exercise.

There's enough things that we as humans do to take years off of our life that we need all the sleep we can get! If you're in college and have a big exam or project coming up, don't make it a habit to always pull all-nighters.  It's best to do a little bit every day to stay in the school mode as well as get a good night's sleep!  This can be difficult sometimes during finals time, but your performance and mood will suffer if you aren't getting enough sleep.

Healthy sleep strengthens your immune system, promotes tissue growth, increases vitality and may increase longevity. Sleep deprivation leads to risk for diseases, colds, or the flu, impairs the immune system, and your mood and happiness will be directly affected.

Your body requires 1 hour of sleep for every 2 hours that you're awake.  When you are awake throughout the day, you are acquiring sleep debt.  If you were to get one less hour of sleep than you need for 8 days straight, you have now acquired 8 hours of sleep debt that your biological clock keeps track of.  This needs to be repaid or you'll be hurting your physical, emotional, and mental health and performance. 

The take away: Get a good night's sleep regularly.  Of course there are exceptions, but be sure to repay your sleep debt!!

Delicious salads

I am by all means NOT a huge huge fan of salads, but I've been on a salad kick lately and am learning to love them. 

On this post, I'll show you some great salads that are super delicious.

 Make your own chopped salads!

What to chop:

• tomatoes
• lettuce
• onions
• cucumbers
• cheese
• chicken breast

Add a little dressing and toss it up! 

Try a tomato bean salad!

What's in it:

• green beans
• grape tomatoes
• yellow tomatoes
• soy beans (edamame 
• yellow beans
• a light dressing

Chicken ceasar salad

• Lettuce
• chicken breast
• shredded parmesan cheese
• ceasar dressing 

 Also really great to put all of these ingredients into a wrap! 

Homemade spinach salad with chicken

• Baby spinach leaves
• chicken breast 
• balsamic vinnaigrette

(Similar to the salad right above this one)

Spinach, mozzarella, chicken salad

• Baby spinach leaves
• fresh mozzarella cheese (Bel Gioioso is a great brand)
• chicken breast 
• balsamic vinnaigrette 

Very fresh taste!  My boyfriend loved it when I made this salad for him and that's saying a lot since he is all about meats, pastas, etc.  

The Simple spinach salad

Just 3 ingredients + dressing!

• baby spinach leaves
• fresh mozzarella
• chopped roma tomatoes
• dressing

Tomato, chicken, Spinach salad

• baby spinach
• grillen chicken breast
• tomatoes
• dressing 

Have fun experimenting with different variations of these healthy salads that taste great! 

This salad is one of my absolute favorites and it's from a restaurant from where I work, Sophia's:

What's in it:

• Romaine lettuce
• grilled chicken breast
• roma tomatoes
• cucumbers
• onions
• almond encrusted goat cheese
• orange ginger vinnaigrette 

YUM! 

Live carefree and manage your stress (:

Stress causes premature aging and is not good on your health!  Not only can you make yourself physically sick from being too stressed, but also stress does nothing for weight loss.

Some tend to eat too much when stressed while others tend to eat too little when stressed.  Neither of these habits is good for you.  

Stress also can also cause headaches, fatigue, insomnia, and if stress is not managed it can increase your chance of having a heart attack and can contribute to diabetes, weight gain, and high blood pressure. 

Find the balance in your life.  Do what makes you happy and do it often.  Find your passions and indulge them.  Make a summer bucket list and actually set out to do those things!

Take some time off for you.  Read a book, give yourself a manicure or pedicure, take a walk, cook your favorite meal, have a Netflix marathon, spend time with those you love, go for a hike, hit up the pool, or simply sit outside and enjoy the beauty of nature.   

Living a healthy life is not just about being physically healthy, but it's about taking care of your mental and emotional health as well. 

Choose to be happy. 

Some things on my Summer Bucket List so far:

Plan a float trip

Go on nature hikes through caves and cliffs at local State Parks

Go camping

Record another acoustic cover

Stay in shape

Learn how to cook more recipes

Read a more than 2 books

Spend time at the pool and the beach

Do something nice for someone

Make some crafts

Go wake boarding again 

Go boating

.

.

. 

Feel free to share any ideas for things to do this summer with everyone in the comments section! 

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If you're going to be on campus all day...

Pack healthy snacks or see what the best options around campus are.

 Some student centers or cafeterias have really great food options on campus.  If you are low on cash however, make a wrap or pack some snacks.

Examples of easy to make zip lock bag snacks:

• thinly sliced apple with orange and lemon squirts on the slices 
• banana with peanut butter in the middle 
• granola with raisins and coconut
• nuts (peanuts, almonds, etc.) 
• carrots or broccoli and a bit of ranch
• apples and peanut butter
• I used to do this all the time in middle school and high school
• One zip lock bag for the apple slices and one for a couple scoops of peanut butter

Other great things to pack:

• a banana
• an orange
• granola bar (Nature Valley is good or Nutrigrain) 
• a wrap

 

Orzo salad (left) and Naked smoothie drinks (right)

Shells and cheese with green beans sauteed in onions and garlic

Other great food options we have available on Mizzou's campus: sushi, salads, fruit cups, veggie salads, etc.

Pinterest has a bunch of great snack and recipe ideas which I'll be posting later on, but click here for the link to my recipes board.

^^ Note: not all the recipes and food ideas in my Recipes board are necessarily healthy and there are a lot of dessert ideas on there too, but regardless I think you guys will enjoy!